A little more than half of Allen County’s $2.4 million in federal relief funds are now spoken for.
Lisse Regehr, CEO of Thrive Allen County, gave commissioners an update on plans to spend the county’s portion of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The county hired Thrive to administer the funds, and a committee helped develop a priority list.
So far, a little more than $1.26 million has either been paid or promised.
Among the big items on the list include paying for a communications tower that will improve radio communication for law enforcement and first responders. It will also allow the county to rent space on the tower to other communications companies, including cellular service providers.
That project comes with the biggest price tag, at $875,350.94.
It was the county’s No. 1 priority.
Commissioners also paid $254,490 for six storm shelters in five communities. Those shelters have been delivered and will soon be installed.
The next largest amount is $96,101, which is Thrive’s administrative fee.
Other projects that have been approved include a county labor study for $11,332, an architect’s design fee of $10,894 for plans to remodel the courtroom; and a security upgrade at the courthouse for $14,810.
The county also agreed to pay part of the cost of a general transportation program that was supposed to be funded by a state grant. But the grant included a van, which is on backorder and may not arrive for two years. The county had to pay a portion of the money they expected the grant to cover, and are waiting to see how much the state will give them.
THE COUNTY still has about 11 projects on their wish list to spend the remaining $1.14 million.
Those projects amount to at least $1.06 million, but some costs are not yet known. For example, the county wants to help the Iola Senior Center with an expansion project, but they don’t have the cost figured into Thrive’s list.
At the top of that list is a request from Rural Water District No. 8 to improve water lines near the Allen County Regional Airport.
The county wants to improve infrastructure to the airport, and realized the water district’s plan was more cost effective than doing it themselves. Therefore, they want to help the water district make that happen.
The water district may have other options, such as grants and loans from the state, that could reduce the cost. The county estimated their cost at $640,641.
Other projects on the list include adding restrooms and concrete floors at three county barns, backup offices for the county’s 911 system, and various other remodel and security projects.
